An open letter to President Ruto ahead of the IDA for Africa Heads of State Summit

Delegates arrive for the Africa Heads of State Summit to be held at Nairobi KICC. President William Ruto is set to open the Summit that begins on April 28, 2024. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Your Excellency,

We, the Women County Governors in Kenya, write to you, H.E. President William Ruto, with a pressing concern regarding the need to prioritize gender equality within the framework of the International Development Association (IDA), particularly in IDA21. As representatives committed to upholding the values of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within our country, we believe that addressing systemic inequalities and empowering marginalized demographics, especially women, is paramount for sustainable development. There is, therefore, need to incorporate gender-responsive interventions into investments made in Kenya and across Africa.

The current global financial system, dominated by entities such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and influential economic blocs and nations, has failed to bolster collective wealth. Instead, it has perpetuated wealth extraction at the expense of developing nations, including in Africa, and has driven poverty and inequality through austerity measures, mounting indebtedness, regressive tax systems, and unfulfilled promises in the region. In light of this, the global reform process must take on the vital task of confronting systemic issues; dismantling colonial legacies and rectifying historical biases by addressing inequality that has plagued many African countries, and in particular IDA countries, over the past decade. Moreover, any meaningful transformation of our socio-economic landscape must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities, and fundamentally be anchored on gender transformation.

The IDA21 replenishment presents a critical juncture to ensure concrete policy commitments to gender equality within IDA by elevating gender equality as a standalone priority area of focus, in addition to gender mainstreaming efforts. However, we are concerned that the current IDA framework is relegating gender equality, marking a departure from its prioritization since 2010, and specifically, a departure from IDA20 where there were eight gender commitments in the policy package. This shows that the global financial reform process continues to mirror the systemic inequalities previously experienced by marginalized demographics through the application of a tokenistic model on gender.

The G7 - Council of Governors, Women Caucus is committed to delivering on the promise of devolution as outlined in Article 174 and Article 175 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 in demonstrating gender, diversity, and inclusion in decision-making. Through our strategy, we recognize that equal opportunity and eliminating gender gaps for women are a necessary foundation for poverty eradication and socioeconomic development and therefore advocate for gender equality as a core priority of IDA21. While IDA alone may not achieve this, prioritizing pillars of transformation, notably gender equality, is paramount to this end. Currently, the debt burden in Kenya has reached critical levels, with the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) reporting that public debt soared to 70 percent of the country’s GDP in 2023. Most importantly, the rising cost of debt service is consuming a significant portion of Kenya's revenue, at 15.8 percent. This is at the expense of critical social services such as health and education, where gender disparities are already glaring,

Unsustainable public debt, compounded by restrictive loan conditions imposed to our country has led to a significant reduction in spending to healthcare. This has been a catalyst for the ongoing strike by healthcare workers which is obstructing women's access to vital healthcare services, including reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child healthcare. Furthermore, recommendations of fiscal consolidation and austerity from the World Bank and IMF leave next to nothing to overdue investments in gender equality initiatives like the implementation of the Kenya National Care Policy.

With this in mind, we implore you, Your Excellency, as well as all African Heads of State and the World Bank President to recognize gender equality as a core priority for IDA21 at the upcoming IDA for Africa Heads of State Summit to be held in Nairobi on 29^th-30th April 2024. As discussions unfold, it is imperative to underscore the significance of women's voices and contributions for inclusive economic transformation. To this end, we also ask you, Your Excellency, alongside other African leaders to join efforts with donors like Canada to ensure gender and care remain IDA priorities. By prioritizing gender equality, we can channel resources and attention toward programs and projects that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women within our nations.

Signed

H.E Anne Waiguru, EGH

Chairperson COG, for G7 COG Women Caucus